David Daim, Jeweller

70’s winds are blowing on the heights of Belleville. Established in DOC, a collaborative space for artists with more than 24 studios, 4 temporary residence spaces and 5 shared technique poles, David Daim stands out. He was trained at the jewels branches of Yves Saint Laurent and then Christian Lacroix and he lately arranged a workspace which looks crazy. Just like in Marrakesh, the floor is flooded with carpets which meet hanged up fabrics. Bright colours which contrast with the blue sky of a wall that carries us away. Very far away. David loves adding new crazy elements. In shapes which remind us of Loulou de la Falaise, with whom he worked during his Yves Saint-Laurent years, but also, and above all, in his creations. Deeply inspired by the East and distant discoveries, they are the stories of his trips. The artist has lived for several years in India. A heritage which is now part of him. Every know-how and everything he uses is the speciality of an ethnic group. All transposed together, these knowledges come alive every time the jeweller gets an order. Materials, essences, pigments: they all come alive thanks to his slender fingers. A compositional work made on a flat surface and for which he takes a photo with a Polaroid. As if it were a memory to hold dear forever. The peculiarity of exceptional jewels. David Daim’s jewels.

David, what’s your story?

David

The story of my life is full of love, as my parents used to be. After having graduated high school, I went to give tennis lessons in the Peloponnese, in Greece, and I then decided to travel for one year with a great pirate intelligent friend Alain Roger. He lightly transformed my destiny of high-level athlete. From Sri Lanka to Ibiza, he introduced me to my great friend Martine Boutron, who, in 1992, had been working for ten years for Yves Saint-Laurent and Loulou de la Falaise. The consequence of this friendship is 14 years of collaboration, great trips, love, and more than 40 collection for the haute couture great houses (Yves Saint-Laurent, Gaultier, Lacroix, Muggler, Balmain, etc.). One thing leading to another, I’m now passionate about shadow puppet, documentaries, short films, installations, artistic direction, the different cuisines and its spices, and of course, my friends, my love, and my two beautiful children who shape my life.

Why did you choose to devote yourself to jewels?

David

I’m a self-taught man, and this choice was not conscious. I have been attracted to the eternal flame, like a Zoroastrian.

Which material do you like to work?

David

When you get to know about the techniques and about how to work on a material, on leather, wood, feather, bone, brass, silver and gold, it’s like cooking: we like mixing and building it all. I don’t have a favourite material, even if I work a lot on brass and silver.

If you had to tell us about your inspirations, what would it be?

David

Everything can be inspiring. What matters is the intention. I learned about being always more curious while being prudent, whether it is about something found in a book or about the colour of a flower. Loulou de la Falaise and M. Saint-Laurent used to start from only one word they would reveal us only two or three weeks before the fashion show. All these moments were our inspirations.

What is your favourite jewel?

David

After having made 6.000 jewels, I still can’t choose!

Can you tell us about your world?

David

My world is shot through with everything I remember from nature, from my trips, orientalism, Middle East, and Asian and African cultures.

Why did you choose to work in this place, the DOC?

David

It was when I met the sculptor Alexis Tolmatchev by chance, in the house of our friend and artist Jacques Fivel. We got along well, so he quickly offered me to share this adventure with him, this association of artistic productions full of creativity, ideas, techniques and all kinds of projects. It has been a success for two years since this multidisciplinary structure is well-educated, kind and serious. It’s a mix of 40 occupations which share and match to show the meaning of unity, such as for the project for the FIAC this year, the future Nuit Debout, Paris Artistes, etc.

What does stimulate you here? Who are your friends?

David

I’m lucky enough to be liked, have great friends, be surrounded with love and music, share great meals, live in a nice setting just like a hedonist, listen, whistle and dance with the birds while working. This place stimulates me.

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